The University Teachers Association of Ghana’s (UTAG) has declared an indefinite nationwide strike in a protest against illegal mining.
The strike which takes effect on October 10 follows the suspension of an industrial action by Organised labour that was slated for today, October 10.
The strike action was announced in a statement after UTAG members in all the 15 universities voted online on the matter. About 77 percent of members voted to support the strike action to get the government to act decisively to halt all forms of mining activities in the country to safeguard forest reserves and water bodies.
Speaking to Power Kasiebo on TV XYZ, Dr Jonathan Asante Otchere, a member of UTAG, University of Cape Coast Chapter, bemoaned the u-turn by organised, the umbrella workers body for all Ghanaian workers.
“UTAG declared the strike after Organised Labour failed to be the conscience of the country. Now we in UTAG are the credible voice in the country that wants to take further action to force the government to act on stopping galamsey,” Dr Otchere said in Akan.
Disappointment
Organised Labour announced the suspension of their planned strike against the illegal mining menace barely 24 hours before the beginning of the intended strike, raising suspicion of possible compromise among leaders of the workers’ group.
Earlier, the Ghana Medical Association, a key institution under Organised labour, had chickened out of the strike action citing the lack of consultation.
Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Joshua Ansah on Wednesday said the suspension was as a result of the government’s announcement of steps it is making to clamp down on the menace.
In his submission to union members, Mr. Ansah indicated that the President had also directed the Lands Minister to submit a request to Parliament for the revocation of L.I. 2462 as they were demanding from the government.
He mentioned that this, along with the deployment of soldiers to assist in the fight and the establishment of 14 courts for the trial of all arrested illegal miners showed enough commitment on the government’s part.
Asante Otchere kicked against the reasons Orgnaised Labour softened its stance, saying UTAG won’t back down until illegal mining, also known as galamsey, is stopped in its entirety and river bodies seen to be recuperating.
According to the lecturer, the government’s announcement that it has released military men to combat galamsey is a charade, claiming that was to lure Organised labour to suspend its industrial action.
Bribery Allegations
There have been concerns among other workers unions which are part of Organised Labour that their leadership was compromised. Some argued that the sector they were against has resources in abundance hence bribing the leaders of the labour group was highly possible.
But Organised Labour has refuted allegations that its leadership was financially influenced by the government to call off the planned nationwide strike.
In response, King Ali Awudu, president of the Coalition of Concern Teachers (CCT) and a key member of Organised Labour, dismissed these accusations as baseless and unfounded.
Awudu emphasised that Organised Labour’s actions had already led to significant progress, compelling the government to take concrete steps.
He pointed that the government, within a month, committed to revoking the Legislative Instrument (LI) that permits mining in forest reserves.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
